Leigh MacMillan

Mariana Byndloss, DVM, PhD, (left), graduate student Catherine Shelton, and their colleagues discovered that beneficial bacteria in the small intestines produce a compound that protects against obesity. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
December 8, 2023

Gut microbiota metabolite protects against obesity: study

Vanderbilt researchers have discovered that beneficial bacteria in the small intestines produce a compound that protects against obesity.

By Leigh MacMillan
December 6, 2023

Pasteurization reduces bioactive component of breast milk

Pasteurization of breast milk affects the concentration of osteopontin, a bioactive protein with roles in intestinal, immunological and brain development — suggesting that osteopontin supplementation should be considered when donor milk is provided to preterm infants.

By Leigh MacMillan
November 21, 2023

Commensal gut bacterium protects from severe intestinal infection

The commensal bacterium Turicibacter sanguinis could be used to protect against severe intestinal infections, Vanderbilt researchers discovered.

By Leigh MacMillan
A C. diff bacterium (green) with iron particles in red, shown in a reconstructed electron tomogram from STEM-EDS. (image courtesy of James McBride)
November 15, 2023

Novel C. diff structures are required for infection, offer new therapeutic targets

Vanderbilt research discovers that iron storage “spheres” inside the bacterium C. diff — the leading cause of hospital-acquired infections — are important for infection in an animal model and could offer new targets for antibacterial drugs.

By Leigh MacMillan
Randika “Randy” Perera, PhD, left, Wenhan Zhu, PhD, Walter Chazin, PhD, Luisella Spiga, PhD, Ryan Fansler and colleagues discovered that beneficial bacteria in the gut impact the competition that occurs between host cells and pathogens for the essential nutrient iron. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
October 27, 2023

Study discovers role for gut bacteria in host-pathogen competition for nutrients

Vanderbilt research shows that commensal gut microbes impact the host-pathogen competition for iron and has implications for therapeutic strategies aimed at preventing pathogens from acquiring essential nutrients.

By Leigh MacMillan
Alyssa Hasty, PhD, left, Jeffrey Rathmell, PhD, and Kamran Idrees, MD, MSCI, are part of a multidisciplinary team that received a 2023 Endeavor Award from The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research to study the connection between obesity and cancer. Team members not pictured include Kathryn Wellen, PhD, Liza Makowski, PhD, and Kathryn Beckermann, MD, PhD.
October 24, 2023

Vanderbilt-led team receives 2023 Endeavor Award from The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research

A multidisciplinary team of investigators has received a 2023 Endeavor Award from The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research to support four closely linked projects exploring the fundamental mechanisms that drive the obesity-cancer connection,

By Leigh MacMillan
September 25, 2023

Researchers discover molecular signature for aggressive thyroid cancer

A Vanderbilt study found that a molecular signature that predicts aggressive thyroid cancer could help guide treatment approaches for patients.
By Leigh MacMillan
September 19, 2023

Flavia Atkins brings caring and leadership to the patients she guides as a health care navigator

She takes pride not only in guiding patients on their health care journeys but also in serving as a resource who is always available to her fellow navigators
By Leigh MacMillan
September 14, 2023

Bone metabolism changes with aging

Vanderbilt researchers have detailed how aging alters the metabolism of bone-forming cells, which could contribute to age-related osteoporosis.
By Leigh MacMillan
September 12, 2023

Discovery lecture features computational cancer biologist Pe’er

Dana Pe’er, PhD, a pioneer in using machine learning approaches to explore cell identities and interactions, will deliver the next Discovery Lecture on Thursday, Sept. 21.
By Leigh MacMillan
September 5, 2023

MicroRNAs in immune cells help protect against metabolic defects in obesity: study

Vanderbilt researchers have demonstrated that a cluster of microRNAs — small pieces of RNA that regulate gene expression — work in a type of immune cells called macrophages to help protect against metabolic defects in obesity.
By Leigh MacMillan
August 3, 2023

Study finds hallmarks of T cell exhaustion within hours of tumor exposure

Vanderbilt researchers found that T cells become “exhausted” within hours of encountering a tumor, challenging existing ideas about how T cells become dysfunctional.
By Leigh MacMillan
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